The Mail Bag
Incognito
Comments (20)
On January 24th the following was published in the Echo: Everton promise to pay for Kirkby parking
I thought "well done" as the Echo was finally publishing what I consider a fair piece of journalism as it offered both sides of the argument. It seems that Liverpool Echo's Tina Miles may have had her hand slapped by her seniors and the club for her troubles judging by the follow up.
On Saturday (the 26th) this was published: Everton FC promises to be a good neighbour
I was personally not present at the Kirkby residents meeting but I have read accounts by people who were and some state that an Everton public relations employee was in attendance but he was not happy to be asked questions as he had not brought any relevant information on the proposed move with him. I may be wrong but if an Everton employee is present but not in a capacity to speak publicly to Kirkby residents then he is not at that time an Everton representative?
KRAG's spokesman Ian Morris was in attendance at the meetings and he was not aware that the club's public relations officer was also present, I am absolutely certain he would not have publicly stated "they didn?t even turn up to a public consultation" had he known.
Did the Everton employee wear a badge on his chest proudly proclaiming 'Everton representative' on it or did he stand towards the back of the hall, away from line of questioning knowing if he introduced himself he would have been the subject of a barrage of questioning?
Originally the picture on the Everton promise to pay for Kirkby parking article was of the proposed stadium in a retail park. The original article now has the glossy picture from the voting brochure in place of the picture of a stadium in a retail park. It's a subtle change but it makes a large difference to the outcome of the article.
Something is certainly amiss here, surely. Why is the club public relations officer turning up to Kirkby resident's groups incognito and why has the picture been changed on the Liverpool Echo website?
Louis Platt, Posted 26/01/2008 at 05:55:18
Comments
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1 Posted 30/01/2008 at 07:08:26
2 Posted 30/01/2008 at 07:32:32
It’s got me so twisted up inside I can’t concentrate on anything else.
Well done for bringing it to everyone’s attention. Questions need answers.
??
3 Posted 30/01/2008 at 09:06:45
Its not as if we have to climb Ben Nevis FFS. The new stadium is comming WE VOTED YES, not as many people voted NO so we are moving, get used to it!
4 Posted 30/01/2008 at 10:42:03
You and your fellow ?Yes? men have jeopardised everything that makes Everton unique. No thanks to you.
5 Posted 30/01/2008 at 11:52:55
FFS grow up. Its a debate. Look up the meaning in a dictionary if you can!!!
6 Posted 30/01/2008 at 12:09:18
Ontopic: if the guy was there as a private person and not for Everton, I don’t see a problem. Perhaps he even lives in or near Kirkby and was there on personal grounds. And even if he was there just ’spying’ for Everton, I don’t see it as a bad thing. Better that than Everton really not knowing and caring about the feelings regadring the move. It was a public meeting, no top-secret conference, as far as I know. I think this gets a bit stirred-up.
The Echo with changing the pic and placing a ’rectifying’ article is something that concerns me more. Media can really form the opinion in a debate so you hope they’ll be as objective as possible.
7 Posted 30/01/2008 at 12:37:09
Whilst some might think this is only a small issue, think again. Most of the ’new’ fans Wyness is hoping to attract from our new catchment area aren’t going to fancy a half hour walk through the streets of Kirkby, especially for night games. I don’t even fancy it! I know Walton’s not the safest place in the world, but whether I drive, get the bus or train I’m within 10mins walk of the ground. Isn’t a new stadium supposed to improve the matchday experience for the fans first and foremost? Afterall, isn’t football about the fans?
8 Posted 30/01/2008 at 13:00:43
Paul, I guess we’ll just have to see the official plans for transport / access when they’re revealed formally. A 30 min walk does not sound appealing, but nobody has said that will actually be necessary - just that there will be parking restrictions in that sort of area around the ground. In my opinion, anything that can pursuade more people to use public transport, provided it is reliable, is of great benefit particularly to the environment.
9 Posted 30/01/2008 at 13:07:30
I left the Lower Gwladys at 22.00 last Wed and was having a reflective pint in the Midland at 22.45
There seemed no point in queuing for a bus or taxi and I thought a walk in the drizzle would do me no harm - I’ve done it many times over many years.
The walk brought home to me how unique our fan base is - I was accompanied by several thousand fellow hikers who turned off en route along the way - Walton Lane, Everton Valley, Kirkdale Rd, Great Homer St. I don’t think I’ll be walking to Church St. from the Tesco complex at Kirkby.
10 Posted 30/01/2008 at 13:55:40
We can re-develop it or move. As we cant get the land around the park to develop it and its cheaper to build a new stadium we are moving to Kirkby.
Its not going to be easy, but itseomething we have to come to terms with. It is vital that we get all the transport, facilities issues sorted out now, thats what we need to be campaigning on to get the best new stadium we can.
11 Posted 30/01/2008 at 14:09:34
Merseytravel have already confirmed that Kirkby train station will not be expanded and currently can only shift something like 2000 passengers per hour.
I?ve heard it mentioned that bus companies will take advantage of this on match days by putting on extra bus services, but do you really think that bus companies will want to put on a bus that does one trip from Kirkby to Liverpool after each game once week? By the time they pay for the fuel, the drivers overtime, and the cost of cleaning the bus afterwards it won?t be worth it. And imagine trying to get the drivers to come in on a Saturday for a 1 or 2 hrs shift! No chance.
The club need to come up with a solution to this problem quickly.
12 Posted 30/01/2008 at 15:43:26
It seems that the standards for a new stadium will no worse than if we expanded Goodison to 50,000 in situ.
It is obvious to everybody that we need a bigger ground albeit there is a difference of opinion regarding where this hould be located. Everybody would love to stay at Goodison but don?t pretend that all in the garden is currently rosier than it actually is.
It strikes me that this is yet another red kipper being cooked up by the KEIOC lobby.
13 Posted 30/01/2008 at 16:29:40
I don?t think a great deal of information or thought was given regarding parking, transport etc. OK, I know it was mentioned by some No voters prior to the vote, but it will take on more importance if the move does come about.
At present, I travel over from North Wales, park on a local residents drive (with permission) and walk the ten minutes to the ground. Takes about an hour and twenty minutes door to ground. I?m not looking forward to "soccer buses", 30 minute walks or paying too much for a car park in addition to an hour's drive.
I think some people now feel as though they were stitched up with the "No Alternative" information from the club.
14 Posted 30/01/2008 at 16:39:04
15 Posted 30/01/2008 at 17:47:18
another red herring dreamt up by KEIOC?
Why is it when faced with facts, yes voters beleive it is made up.
Mersey Travel and both authorities have spelt out clearly the problems.
Everton and bus companies are to provide park and ride from Aintree racecourse. These are facts not something dreamt up. You have been suckered into voting for a total cock-up.
16 Posted 30/01/2008 at 18:29:17
17 Posted 30/01/2008 at 18:43:54
You really have been overbeating the disabled passenger drum..Heres two thoughts..why not drop them at the ground(im sure a steward will assist) and then go and park your car...or have you considered the possibilty that the club may well have some provisions in place for disabled fans already?
Do you currently park in the park end car park? Are your passengers wheelchair bound? If so they wont be walking anywhere. I'm sure provisions will be made..Its a bit sad to use your friends/families disability as a stick to poke the pro-Kirby brigade with..
18 Posted 30/01/2008 at 23:15:42
19 Posted 31/01/2008 at 00:02:00
I’m not a yes voter
20 Posted 31/01/2008 at 22:46:14
Any team playing in Kirkby town will have nothing to do with the team I’ve followed as a season ticket holder for the last 45 years.
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